Fête Impériale eyes more stores in France, to enter the UK

When Laura Gauthier Petit launched Fête Impériale in 2015 in Paris, she specifically focused on direct sales via the brand's commercial website. At the time, Petit told FashionNetwork.com, "Having come from digital marketing, I quickly set up the internet component [of the business]."

Two years on, the label opened its first store, located at number 28 rue du Roi de Sicile, in Paris's fourth arrondissement.

Fête Impériale's spring/summer 2018 collection - Fête ImpérialeServing as an atelier, showroom and store, the Parisian space has the advantage of establishing a closeness between customers and the brand, as well as emphasising the 'made in Paris' manufacturing for most Fête Impériale products.

With a successful debut location, the label is now in a period of transition and is on the hunt for more store locations, both in France and the UK.

"This second market seems to be natural move for us. In addition, during the [Tranoï March 2018 ] tradeshow, there were a lot of English buyers interested in our collections," explained Laurène Petit, the new director of finance and operations for the brand.

Meanwhile, the brand, which announced it is experiencing high growth without going into details, makes 60% of its revenues in France and 40% via exports, sending product to markets such as the US, South Korea, Lebanon, Taiwan, and the UK.

Among other developments for the brand in 2018, Fête Impériale considering the launch of a studio line, more couture, with a different positioning to that of seasonal collections with fifty or so products. An occasion to highlight the expertise of the brand's ateliers, most notably the artisanal practice of placed prints.

Between its 'made in Paris' production and work on the research of developing new materials, Fête Impériale hopes to attract a clientele eager to buy unique and exceptional products.